Eighteen individuals and groups won prizes at the Vietnamese Women Awards this year on the occasion of the upcoming national Women’s Day (October 20). — Photo VGP

HÀ NỘI —  Eighteen individuals and groups won prizes at the Vietnamese Women Awards this year on the occasion of the upcoming national Women’s Day (October 20).

At the awards ceremony, organised by the Central Committee of the Việt Nam Women’s Union in Hà Nội yesterday evening, Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ granted merits to ten outstanding women and eight groups for remarkable achievements in their careers.

The award winners come from all walks of life, from scientists and teachers to workers and start-up entrepreneurs.

“They (the awards winners) are the examples who will inspire millions of women who are working day and night for the sustainable development of Việt Nam,” Huệ said.

Also yesterday, 22 women who designed innovative ideas on reducing impacts of natural disasters and adapting to climate change were granted merits at Women’s Innovation Day 2017.

The three most outstanding ideas would receive funding to be carried out in real life.

A woman-friendly city

A meeting to discuss the problems that prevent HCM City from being a women- and children-friendly place was organised by the city government yesterday.

It was attended by over 180 People’s Committee and Women’s Union representatives, and created an opportunity for women to express their opinions and demands and suggest solutions for the city’s development.

The meeting discussed several problems related to healthcare, domestic violence, food hygiene and safety, sexual abuse, traffic jams, flooding, pollution and other issues.

Đỗ Thị Ngọc Diệp, director of the city’s Nutrition Centre, said in 30 years the city had achieved a meagre per capita height increase of 4cm.

Nutrition plays an important role in physical growth, especially that of children and young people, but the city lacks agencies providing advice about nutrition and diet, according to Diệp.

Võ Trọng Nam, deputy chairman of the Department of Culture and Sports, said since many theatres were too old the city had approved the construction of five modern theatres to benefit women stage artistes.

Nguyễn Thị Quyết Tâm, chairwoman of the People’s Council, said the city had received 17 complaints from leaders and Women’s Union members at the first dialogue held last year.

Most of them had been resolved by authorities, she said.

She called for community action to protect woman and children, achieve gender quality and safeguard women’s rights. — VNS